Russian SKS45 - Polish Army Marked

[fenceline]

For the last couple of months I've been hounding one of the "local" Canadian online dealers about the recent batch of SKS carbines he has brought back from his contacts over in Poland. Some of these imports have also included Mosin and SVT40s. Of note, he has brought in a few Mosins with Polish Army markings which is especially cool.

Today I met up with the dealer at a local gun show and picked up an SKS from him. I thought some of the SKS nuts here might like to see it, as I haven't see much of this particular variety noted in many circles. And by that, I mean no where.

1952 Russian SKS-45, refurbed. All pieces have factory matching serial numbers with the exception of the Laminate stock which has no XXXX but the proper serial number. Refurb mark on receiver cover. Birch hand guard.

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AND...

Two Polish Army "W.P." markings.

One on the left side of the butt stock, to the rear of the serial number...

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And one on the left side of the stock, between the bolt and the magazine...

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No export marking that I have seen so far. We don't require "import" markings here, but nothing on it like Molot would do. The dealer had two at the show, and this was the nicest of the two he had. No more coming in apparently, and supply was very short in his words. And no, he wasn't trying to upsale me with that line. I got the gun for less than the Molot versions were selling for down the line of tables at another dealer. And I won't mention the price here, I'd get flamed too bad.

This one isn't wasn't a parade rifle and appears to have been in long term storage similar to the SKS that were coming out of the Ukraine.

Picture of 1956 Russian SKS45 in a Polish parade stock for comparison. Note, this also is not an official Polish parade rifle, just a run of the mill Russian in a surplus stock I managed to find, to make a Polish Parade SKS example. Not trying to pass it off as authentic...

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Of a secondary note he did have one that had the stock sanded down, and a very large font serial number on the left side of the butt stock. He explained that the Polish Army had the unit's crest on the stock, and these had to be removed by law prior to export. The stock had been sanded, restamped and then re-stained. You could feel the depression, and the number was noticeable to those keen on the sks, but anyone not knowing what to look for would probably not have noticed. Interesting piece for sure. There were no other marks on that rifle.

[RMXC51]

I bought an M44 from them as well, 1944 with a laminated stock and WP Polish army markings in the same spots. Fireballs, anyone?

I also find it interesting that the M44 and SKs are the same length. Must have been a soviet standard length and size for everything.